810.20 Defense/2293: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile ( Bowers ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:21 p.m.]
478. General Escudero last night said that neither the Ministry of Defense nor the army had been informed as to the agenda of the Inter-American Defense Board meeting on March 30 (my No. 420, March 16, 2 p.m.29) and have been unable to give instructions to the delegates. He said bitterly that it had been the intention to send the Chiefs of Staff of the Chilean military services but that the Chilean Ambassador in Washington had stated that it was not contemplated that delegates be sent but rather that Military Attachés and missions present in the states should act as delegates. I am not anxious to encourage any bickering on this matter between the Chilean Armed Forces and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs but Escudero has been a good friend and any information about the agenda that I could discreetly transmit to him would be useful. I personally regret that delegates were not sent from here because as a general rule the more that go to the United States the more friends we have when they return to Chile.
- Not printed.↩